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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






2. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






3. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






4. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






5. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






6. Unmusical - without tone.






7. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






8. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






9. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






10. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






11. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






12. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






13. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






14. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






15. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






16. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






17. The movement of chords in succession.






18. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






19. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






20. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






21. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






22. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






23. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






24. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






25. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






26. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






27. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






28. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






29. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






30. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






31. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






32. A direction to play lively and fast.






33. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






34. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






35. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






36. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






37. The highest female voice.






38. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






39. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






40. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






41. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






42. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






43. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






44. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






45. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






46. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






47. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






48. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






49. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






50. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.